Leo ruffled Ricci’s hair.“A pavlova.It’s my favorite dessert, and my mother always made one for my birthday every year.In my family, the birthday person always got to choose what they wanted to eat for their birthday meal.Of course, some years we’d have parties.”
“I’ve never had a party before.”Ricci’s small face radiated excitement.
“It’s an Earth custom,” Leo explained.“Every planet does things in different ways.”
“I don’t remember Petros.”Ricci accepted the plate Leo handed him and bit into a sandwich.“I like sandwiches.”
“Glad to hear it.”Leo handed a plate to her.
“Thank you.”Betrys couldn’t meet Leo’s gaze.She knew he’d have questions, but she hesitated in the provision of answers.
“Tell me about Earth, please, Leo.”Animation made Ricci’s face glow, and it tugged at her heartstrings.Her one regret about her marriage—Corrin had always been busy with administration and organizing sales of their forecasting skills.That left few personal moments for their son.Now, he was reveling in Leo’s attention.
Betrys listened to Leo’s husky voice as he described the antics of his brothers and sister and their cousins.Much like her son, she listened enthralled, the corners of her mouth hitching upward as he spun tales of swimming in the river during the hot part of the year.He told them about his dog—an Earth creature—that had died at eighteen years old and left him heartbroken.
Ricci let out a sudden yawn, and a pang of disappointment struck her.Selfishly, she wanted to keep her son with her and enjoy his company for longer.The parent in her overruled her initial instinct.“It’s time for you to go to sleep, my son.”
The moment was bittersweet.Her normal interactions with her son were short, and she was aware the time spent with Ricci occurred because Iseult allowed the indulgence.
“Stretch out on the long chair,” she said.
“Will you and Leo be here in the morning?”
Her son’s innocent question pumped sorrow through her, and she was sure Leo caught the strain lurking under her smile.“I’ll be home soon.”
Ricci yawned again, and she hustled him to the long chair.
Leo followed her.“I’ll tell you a story about my brothers when they were your age.”
Betrys picked up a soft blanket off the end of the sleep-bed.She was sure it hadn’t been there before and presumed Caspar had provided the blanket for her son.She hoped the incorporeal man kept his word and escorted Ricci safely back to his bed.Most Petros children received training and knew to leave a mental tie at their starting point, so they never wandered lost in the dreamscape.She hadn’t passed her training on to Ricci because Corrin had tested him and declared he lacked the talent to forecast the future by dreams.
She’d have to rethink that because it was obvious Ricci possessed a little dream-walking talent—enough to put him in danger if left to his own devices.
Betrys worried about her new problem and let Leo’s voice wash over her as he told Ricci a bedtime story.Maybe Caspar would know the extent of his power, or maybe…maybe the power came from the incorporeal man.Hope surged then dropped to the pit of her stomach.No, her son would need to have some sort of latent talent to make the journey in the first place.
Another problem to add to her load, because if Ricci mentioned his new experiences or meeting Leo to Iseult, the quagmire she stood on would turn to quicksand.
Two problems—Iseult would learn about Ricci’s dream walking and connect the dots.She’d make the mental jump and come to the conclusion that Betrys held the same power as her son.Iseult would want to exploit the power to further her own ends, which led to the second problem.Iseult would learn Leo was alive, she’d discover Betrys had conspired to hide the truth from her, and she’d learn she couldn’t trust Betrys to follow her orders.
Leo watched the child fall asleep but continued telling his story to give himself space to think.Betrys has a son.
Ricci’s existence added all sorts of layers to his questions.Why did Betrys troll the Dalcon market for Iseult?Why did she continue working for the woman when it was obvious she hated her job?And why didn’t she see much of her son?What hold did Iseult have over her that made Betrys follow the woman’s orders?
The scar on his stomach was aching again, the pain becoming more intense by the second.He needed to drink another one of those tonics.They tasted disgusting but they did make him feel better once he’d choked down the foul mixture.
Betrys never stirred when he wandered to the kitchen area.He opened the cold-box and found another vial of the tonic.He pulled out the stopper, took a quick breath and guzzled the contents.For a few seconds he thought his stomach might revolt, but he swallowed hard three times and his gag reflex retreated.The pain also ceased, leaving him free to return to his questions.
“Why do you let Iseult keep you from your son?”
Betrys’s head jerked up and she regarded him mutely.
“I’m waiting for an answer.”
“I don’t have to appease your curiosity.”
“You made it my business by approaching me in the market.”Leo stood, anger finding an outlet in clenched fists.“The way I see it is I can keep you here until you provide the answers I’m seeking.”
“You can’t do that.Iseult is expecting me back at Spiderus Mansion.I can’t stay away for much longer.Please, Leo.Iseult might hurt Ricci if I don’t return on schedule.”
